Delay of Early marriage

Programs & Our Achievements

The program was carried out across four East Africa countries namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. These countries were identified to build an evidence base in East Africa to explore how marriage age may be impacted in various settings, using 4 different models. Scope was selected solely to run the programme in Kilifi County. The goal of this project was to develop and implement culturally-appropriate programs to delay the age at marriage in Kilifi County, Coast Province, Kenya. Specific goals were:• To increase awareness and education at the community level on the negative effects of early marriage;• To promote girls’ education through the provision of educational subsidies;• To provide girls social support to achieve their educational goals;• To offset the economic gains made in marriage transactions through the provision of community incentives.

The project was implemented in Kilifi County, within selected sub-locations in the divisions ofVitengeni, Chonyi, Bamba/Ganze, Kaloleni, and Magarini. The project sites were identified based on the following factors:

accessibility,

population density,

potential contamination,

and potential influence of tourism based on proximity to the ocean.

Although the sites vary in geographical size, each has approximately 2,000 unmarried girls between the ages of 10 and 17. Activities were implemented in identified locations only.

Achievements

In our intervention strategies we carried out community awareness through Chiefs and Assistant-Chiefs’ baraza meetings, promotion of education through educational support, and community -level economic incentives to delay early marriage.

Working with girls in school and outside school and seen considerable drop in early marriages.

Female mentors selected by SCOPE were working with the girls outside school for the education promotion.

With the girls in school, Smart Clubs were formed where we have female teachers as patrons who assist the girls.